Social workers, substance use problems and SerD: role, competencies and educational needs

This article presents some reflections on Social Work Education, practice, and theories based on the results of a qualitative study conducted with social workers from addiction services in a region of northern Italy. The focus is on the role of social workers in Addiction Services (SerD), specifically on the adequacy of university and continuing education in meeting professional needs in this field. Through a qualitative analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews with social workers, it emerges that many practitioners feel unprepared and are forced to “invent” their role in addressing the complexities of addiction. The interviewees described a training path that was not sufficiently targeted and difficulties in recognizing their professional approach within a context dominated by a medical-healthcare culture and approach. This article discusses the role, competencies, and educational needs of social workers from a Critical Social Work perspective (Healy, 2014). Finally, it considers the possibilities of updating and integrating social work university curricula, paying greater attention to the work and support of individuals with substance use problems to better prepare future social workers for the complexities of working in SerDs.